Sprinkler system



W. G. WiLSON.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

APPLlCATiON FILED JUNE 2:. i919.

1 3 4 34 0 Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

INVENTOR warren stares rarer spl NYLIE G. WILSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 SLIDING VALVES INCORPO RATED, A CORPGBATION OF DELAVIARE.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

Application filed June 21,

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, 22L115 G. lVrnson, a subject of the King 01 Great Britain, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Sprinkler Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sprinkler systems of a character adapted to be installed in loft buildings, factories, etc., and intended to be automatically controlled by temper ature conditions so that, in the event 01 fire, water, which is normally held in check, is released and sprayed broadcast in the localized zone of fire.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler system of this general character so constituted that the pipes which. distribute the water to the various parts ol the building are normally maintained free .from water, the water being held in check by air pressure within the pipes adapted to be released in the event of fireto allow a flow of water therethrough for the purpose of carrying on the sprinkling operations. A further object of the invention is to accomplish this result without the use of mechanical valves or diaphragms interposed in the path of the water but by a purely pneumatic seal. The former are expensive to install andmaintain, and are liable to get out of order, whereas it is desirable to provide means to hold back the water which will be simple, economical and eflicient.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby an initial alarm will be sounded throughout the building or to specific station should the system become slightly impaired as by the leakage of valves, etc, so that immediate repair may be had, or where the apparatus is set in motion by heat generated by fire, etc, to sound a general alarm through the building by means of the pipe distribution, as well as specifically to any particular station or office in the building or elsewhere.

Features of the invention other than those specified will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated diagrammatically the present invention as applied to a fire sprinkler system Specification of Letters Patent.

1919. Serial NO. 305855.

but the construction herein shown is to be understoodas illustrative only and not as defining the limits oi the invention. Referring to the drawings A designates a pipe leading from a suitable source of water supply which may be either a water main or a tank on the roof of the building with which the system is associated. B designates the distributer pipe of the system which leads through the building by means of pipe B and the necessary branch pipes to various rooms in which it is desired to have the Patented Jan. 4, 192L- sprinkler protection. Pipe B as well as the branches thereof are provided at desired intervals with sprinkler outlet valves C, of

any well known type normally sealing pipe B but adapted under the influence o'l excessive heat to unseal said pipe. Such valves are usually sealed by a fusible link which under abnormal temperature conditions is fused so that the valve automatically opens, or they may be of the thermostatic type operating to open the valve when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit. It is immaterial in practising this invention what form of valve is employed, provided it is constructed to open in the presence of abnormal temperature. .The expression sprinkler valve as used herein is intended to refer to any form of valve suitable for the purposes stated. Where the expression valves of the sprinkler system l is employed in the claims herein, it is intended to refer thereby to valves or plugs located in the sprinkler pipe line and controlling the exit of air or water under pressure from the sprinkler line into the chamber into which it is desired to cause water to flow as a fire extinguishing means.

As shown in the drawings both of the pipes A and B communicate with a reservoir D, the pipe A leading to the base of the reservoir and terminating at a point below the liquid level normally contained therein, while the pipe B finds exit from said reservoir at a point normally above the liquid level. Tater flows through the pipe A. into the reservoir D, and the dome of said reservoir, as well as the distributing system, is filled with air under pressure, such pressure being sufiiciently high to hold back the unrestricted flow of water into the reservoir and the water is thus held in check, so that a certain predetermined level will be maintained in the reservoir. The air pressure in the system may be initially established in any desired way and by any suitable means, but should this pressure slightly drop through leakage it may be restored through the utilization of a pump E associated with the reservoir for this purpose. The pump may be mechanical and as here shown is hand operated by aplunger spindle F which, when manipulated, serves to compress air and force it into the reservoir. The spindle is provided with anannular flange f which may be held to the top of the pump casing E by a threaded cap 6 to seal the pump against the possibility of leakage of water or air. However, when it is desired to operate the pump the threaded cap 0 may be removed to allow of unrestricted reciprocation of the spindle. The reservoir is provided with a gage glass d so that the liquid level therein may be observed by one in charge of the system. If the level therein is seen to rise slightly in the gage glass the one in charge will know that the pressure has slightly dropped through leakage and will operate the pump to buildup the pressure again to the desired point. I

It will thus be seen that, in the normal condition of the system, the hydrostatic pressure in the pipe A causes the flow of water through the circulatory system B in case of fire; this normally is opposed by the compressed air in the system. In the event, however, of a fire in the building one or more of the sprinklers C will be opened the rise in temperature due to combustion in the building, thus releasingthe air under pressure in the system, hence such pressure will immediately drop and be so overcome by the hydrostatic pressure in the pipe A, that water will rise in the reservoir and flow through the system, finding its exit through such sprinkler or sprinklers C as have been opened by the action of the heat. After the fire has been extinguished the flow of water may be shut off from the system B by means of a valve G, which is provided for that purpose. In practice the tank I) is preferably located in the basement of the building or at some point below the sprinkling pipe system. It will be noted that no mechanical valves or diaphragms are required to hold the head of water but that this is accomplished by the air pressure operating in association with mechanisms that cannot be affected by remaining inoperative for any length of time. I

The following is a description of the means by which I provide a system of alarms in association with the means for controlling the head of water above described. By these mechanisms I provide means by which an alarm will be sounded to give notice of a leak or other impairment of the operative means, and a further alarm in the event of fire.

Positioned within the reservoir D and mounted for vertical sliding movement therein is float H having a stem h mounted for movement in guides h. The stem h is provided on its opposite sides with projections or knobs z" into the path of which projects the operating nose of a clapper I and the operating nose of a weighted switch I. With the clapper I is associated a bell J while the weighted switch I is adapted to control the electric circuit to the buzzer. J. The bell J is positioned within the reservoir I) while the buzzer J is preferably located in the j anitors room or the superintendents ofiice. 3

In the event of a slight leak in the circulatory system the water level will slowly rise in the reservoir D and the uppermost projections i and a" will swing the clapper and weighted switch out of normal position against the force of gravity. This will have the effect of tilting the weighted switch I to close the buzzer circuit with the result that the buzzer will be sounded and will continue to sound until the water has risen sufficiently for the uppermost projection e" to pass the switch once more to gravitate into open position. At the same time the operating nose of the clapper I will be released and will swing back striking the bell a single stroke. In the case of a slight leak the janitor or superintendent, hearing the buzzer or hell, will have time to bring about the operation of the pump E to restore the pressure, or if the pressure is not given immediate attention the bell and buzzer will sound again at recurrent intervals as the water level will rise very slowly with a slow leak. However, in case of fire, the pressure will drop in the reservoir very rapidly and the water level willrise with corresponding rapidity carrying one projection after another past the clapper and'weighted switch with the result that the buzzer will be given a series of short consecutive sounds while the bell J will be struck a succession of sharp blows and the sound thereof will be transmitted throughout the entire pipe line and will be heard in every room in which the system is installed. The occupants of the building hearing the clanking of the bell will know that there is a fire in the building, whereas if the bell is struck but a single time or the buzzer given but one impulse, they will know, from prior intelligence furnished, that nothing serious is the matter but that there is simply a slight leak in the system which will be readily remedied by one of the attendants of the building.

The present invention, therefore, not only provides a greatly improved means for supporting the head of water by a pneumatic operating nose of the switch and allow the seal but also operates to serve as an alarm should the system be impaired or in case of fire.

That I claim is 1 1. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a tank, a sprinkler pipe line leading from the tank and a water main leading to the tank, in combination with alarm means positioned entirely within the tank and controlled by the water level therein for effecting an audible alarm in the event of a change of water level in the tank.

2. In a sprinkler system of the class de scribed, a closed tank interposed between the water main and the sprinkler pipe line, and so connected therewith that the water is fed through said main to the base of the tank, means to supply water under pressure through said water main to the tank, and means to supply air under pressure to the dome of the tank and to the sprinkler pipe lines, such air pressure being su'flicient to maintain water in the tank within predetermined limits of level under normal conditions, but not suflicient to interfere with the flow of the water through the sprinkler system when any oi? the valves thereof are opened by the application of heat thereto, with means positioned Within the tank and operated by the water level within the tank to sound preliminary alarm when the water level is changed slowly, and secondary or general alarm when the water level is changed rapidly.

3. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a closed tank interposed between the water main and the sprinkler pipe line, and so connected therewith that the water is fed through said main to the base of the tank, and the sprinkler pipe lines communi cate with the dome of the tank, means to supply water under pressure through said water mains to the tank, and means to supply air under pressure to the dome of the tank and to the sprinkler pipe lines, said air pressure being sufficient to maintain water in the tank within predetermined limits of level under normal conditions, but not sufficient to interfere with the flow of the water through the system when any of the valves are opened by the application of heat thereto, a float mounted within the tank to move with the rise and fall of water level, said float carrying means to engage and control preliminary and secondary audible alarms.

in. In a sprinkler svstem of the class described, a closed tank interposed between the water main and the sprinkler pipe line, and so connected therewith that the water is fed through said main to the base of the tank, means to supply water under pressure through said water main to the tank, and means to supply air under pressure to the dome of the tank and to the sprinkler pipe lines, such air pressure being suflicient to maintain, water in the tank within predetermined limits of level under normal conditions, but not suliicient to interfere with the flow of the water through the sprinkler sys tem when any of the valves thereof are opened by the application of heat thereto, a float mounted within the tank to move with the rise and fall of water level, said float carrying means to engage and control pre' liminary and secondary audible alarms, such alarms comprising; a bell mounted on the tank and means to strike said bell a single blow when the water level rises slowly, and a succession of blows when the water level rises rapidly.

5. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a closed tank interposed between the water main and the sprinkler pipe line, and so connected therewith that the water is fed'through said main to the base of the tank, and the sprinkler pipe linescommunicate with the dome of the tank, means to supply Water and pressure through said water main to the tank, and means to supply air under pressure to the dome of the tank and to the sprinkler pipe lines, such air pressure being su'liicient to maintain water in the tank within predetermined limits of level under normal conditions, but not suilicient to interl'ere with the flow of the water through the sprinkler system when any of the valves are opened by the application of heat thereto, a float mounted within the tank to move with the rise and fall of water level, said iioat carrying means to engage and control preliminary and secondary audible alarms, such alarms comprising means to make and break an electrical circuit as water level changes. a

6. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a closed tank, a water main leading to the tank and a sprinkler pipe line leading away from the tank, which sprinkler pipe line is normally sealed and contains air under pressure for the purpose of holding back the flow of water through the tank, though normally maintaining the tank partially filled, and audible alarm means positioned within the tank and controlled by the Water level therein for giving an alarm in the event of a change or water level.

7. In a sprinkler system of the class de scribed, a closed tank, a water main leading to the tank and a sprinkler pipe line leading away from the tank, which sprinkler pipe line is normally sealed and contains air un der pressure for the purpose of holding back the flow of water through the tank, though normally maintaining the tank partially filled, a bell mountedwithin the tank and a float operable by the rise or fall of water to the tank and a sprinkler pipe line leading away from the tank, Which sprinkler pipe line is normally sealed and contains air uir der pressure for the purpose of holding back 5 the flow of water through the tank, though normally maintaining the tank partially filled, a bell mounted Within the tank, and a float operable by the rise or fall of Water level Within the tank to effect a ringing of 10; the bell, in combination with additional alarm means mounted exteriorly of the tank,

and electrical connections also controlled by the float for effecting the operation of the additional alarm means, when the Water level in the tank changes. 15

Signed by me at New York. N. Y., this 19th day of June, 1919.

WYLIE Gr. WILSON.

Witnesses: i

BERTRAND D. DEPIERRIs, FRANK S. MOORE. 

